Monday, 26 February 2024

Musings

Yes, I'm trying to come up with some "musings". Thing about staying home for the travel season (aka winter) is that a person runs out of interesting things to write about.

Just one of our local walks... 



Snowdrops

Crocuses

Daffodils too!

Hoof Fungus.
It does look a bit like a horse hoof, doesn't it?

Not sure where this came from 
but there is a head missing!

Just a few fun things...Jasper turned 9 years old on February 17th. Yeesh, how did that happen so fast? He is a great human, full of funny faces, craziness with his big and little brother. Just an all around awesome dude!

Now, that's a cake. Made by Mom!!
Happy Birthday Jasper!!

North Shore Indoor bike track. Built inside an old Sears store at a mall in North Vancouver. Super fun for kids and adults.
https://northshorebikepark.ca 

Jasper at the indoor bike park.

August at one of his night-time socer games

Holden sitting on a green stool that my 
Dad bought in the 1960's.
This thing is indestructible I think. 

Getting ready for the Grandma run to school.

Great joke Rudy!!
Submitted to one of the local stores!

So, there you have it. Not much happening. I feel like we are at the mid-winter point, just waiting for it to be over. Waiting for spring. 

As most of you know, I don't get involved in political discussions or controversial subjects. Mind you, there are MANY things I am sure we all would have to say about some of the world events. I prefer my space here to be just an easy-going space. Hope you all agree and if you don't well, that's okay too I guess.

Peace out friends!

Thought for the Day: Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already. From "The Simplicity Habit"

Saturday, 10 February 2024

February already?

 Well, January certainly blasted by us, didn't it? I hear that this is what happens as you get "older". We'll just leave that thought right there.

Not much happening here. Lots of walks, here and there. Soccer watching with both big guys playing. Life as it is in the winter I guess. 

Just a random collection of pictures:

Someone celebrated a birthday in January

Crescent Beach at near sunset

Brunch with Grandma Nadyne

Sparkling smile as always.
90 years young.

Snow for Teagan and Rudy!
Lots where they live!

Holden "practicing guitar" with Popop
(as he calls Doug)


This past week we took a drive up to Golden Ears Provincial Park (Maple Ridge) for a picnic. It's only 40 minutes from White Rock. We have camped here in the past many times. The campground part of the park is partly closed but there are still a surprising number of sites open. There were only 3 sets of campers but they looked quite well-prepared. There is no electrical (as in all provincial parks) and they have the water shut down for winter. There are pit toilets. If you come camping you need to ensure that you have your own water and maybe TP. It would be very peaceful indeed....



 The long path down to the lake. It's about a 10 minute walk 
but it goes steeply downhill at the end of this trail


Alouette Lake



So, just as promised, I am trying to keep posting bits and pieces. I hope everyone is well and getting through the winter, whereever you are.

Peace out friends!

Thought for the Day: Be the reason someone smiles today. Or the reason they drink....Whatever works.

Sunday, 28 January 2024

ZOINKS!

Snazzy sunrise header picture by Doug. Pretty beautiful!

Yes, I am still alive. Admit it, some of you were wondering weren't you? 

Off we go... 

I left you hanging at Thanksgiving so there is a bit to catch up on. Firstly, we are all well. That is the most inportant thing. Both our Mom's are still doing well. Doug's Mom, Helen, lives in a care home in Medicine Hat AB where she receivs excellent care. She is 101 years old. Amazing. My Mom, Nadyne, still lives in her senior's active living establishment about one hour away from us. Enjoys a glass of wine almost weekly with a friend or two at the local Royal Canadian Legion next door to where she lives. 90 trips around the sun for this lady. Again, amazing.

Grandsons are growing like the proverbial "bad weeds". We love being around them. August is now 11 years old, Jasper is coming up 9 years old next month, Rudy is 7-1/2 years old and Holden is 2 years old. 

Yes, Doug and I are older too!

I am keeping busy helping out 2-3 days per week with the boys that live near us (August, Jasper and Holden). Rudy lives 8 hours away so we don't get to hang out with him this time of year. Too many snow covered mountain passes to cross. To counteract complete and utter boredom, Doug is working again 3 days per week helping his brother, Don, who works at a commercial construction company handling maintenance issues with their customers. Doug is helping with billing etc for Don. He and Don have always gotten along so well it hardly seems like work at all (shhh, don't tell the big boss). 

Yes, Eurii is sitting in the driveway....We did get another "new to us" car. A 2006 Jetta so Doug could go his way and I could transport the boys to and from school on my "work days" in the van. They love it. Well, Holden didn't "love it" at first. The first day we had him in there he yelled all the way to school (thank goodness it is only 5 minutes away) "Grandma, get me out!!!!" Over and over again. Now he can't wait to get back in. Eurii has that way with people. 

It really felt like a bit of a shock when the end of December came and we were still here. Then it SNOWED!! What the heck?? We are still getting over the culture shock of that for sure. We have started entertaining ourselves by reading the blog from last year. That's pretty desperate but that way we can see what we were doing "this time last year". I can assure you, it was WAY warmer where we were this time last year. Don't get me wrong, we are having fun and enjoying time with family and friends so that's what really matters, right?

Here are a few pictures to get me back on the right track. Hope you enjoy them (if anyone is still out there). Yes, as always, I'll try and do better.

Our local White Rock Community has 8 or 9 sculptures down on the promenade walk by the pier. Beautiul work.

Pier in the background.
Reportedly the "longest pier in Canada"




Local duck pond park just up the street from us. Beautiful walking through here. Early November.



Sunset looking across the street.

The Three Musketeers from up the street!
August, Holden & Jasper 

Our other Musketeer, Rudy!


You know these had to come, sooner or later!



This brings us up to 2024. I guess I should be wishing everyone a "Happy New Year" and I do! Let's hope for good things, great health and maybe, just maybe, some peace in this world for everyone.

Not where Eurii (or Doug) wants to be....


Hard to tell in this picture but the hill we live just off of is a 23% grade. At the first hint of a snowflake or ice they close the hill. People around here love it as it's their own private ski, tobbogan, snowboard hill. That
is the ocean out there where the pier is.


And less than a week later virtually ALL the snow is gone. Life on the West Coast of Canada. We get some snow then it disappears pretty fast with all our rain.


Doug and I have had extensive conversations about our future plans. We are HOPING that this time next year we will, once again, be in Mexico. We have dabbled with the idea of buying (again) a very small trailer but we both feel like we have another Eurii adventure in us. There is such simplicity in traveling in the van. For sure we miss the conveniences of a small trailer (bathroom comes to mind, hot water on demand too) but there is just something about Eurii....

We already have our first camping trip up on the books for mid-May. That will come up fast enough. Funny how life does that as you get "older" isn't it? There will be loads of Canada camping this year. 

Peace out friends.

Thought for the Day: Never be afraid of what you can't do. Be afraid of what you didn't try.

Sunday, 15 October 2023

Thanksgiving Camping

Seems strange that we are here at this time of year again. Hard to believe that time just flies along like it does.

MAPLE BAY CAMPGROUND, CULTUS LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK

We have done Thanksgiving camping for eight years now. The first few years we were at another provincial park and there were a scattering of people camping. Then, it seemed to explode with people. We ended changing to Cultus Lake Prov Park because they have cabins available for some of our famiy members that don't have camping rigs. Works out really well.

Most of our years we have been really, really lucky with good weather. A few years we have definitely had our share of rain but looking back on the pictures Kathy and I realized how many times we have been in the sunshine.

First off though, August and Jasper in their 
orange shirts for Truth and Reconcilliation Day, Sept 30th.

August taught us how to make an origami shirt for
Truth & Rec Day.....


Off to Thanksgiving we go.....

Doug and Eurii ready for the troops...



This big field is right behind our campsite and is
so nice for just hanging out in the sun....



Once the turkey is safely in the oven we all head down to the beach for our "Stuffing Splash" into Cultus Lake. It's cold but a fun way to start the afternoon.

Swimmers ready....

We have the dinner pretty dialled in after this many years. Everyone has their "thing" that they prepare and it all works out amazing.Believe it or not, we have NEVER run out of food!

Total count of 24 people fed this year!




It was that kind of day!

Movie time after a long day

The pancake crew on Sunday morning. 
August, Ivy and Grandpa Doug


Then it was a walk over to the Lindel Beach store for ice cream
Yes, after the HUGE pancake breakfast we still needed ice cream!

Our Rudy update. All ready for the fall season!
We love you Rudy!!

That has wrapped up our camping season. Since we bought Eurii last September we have slept in it for a total of 145 nights (including our Mexico time). That is pretty amazing. Some people don't use their RV that much in years.

I guess we don't do a lot of "fancy traveling". I consider this blog my own personal diary of what we do. I hope you enjoy it. Nothing huge to be gained from it. No earth-shattering information, just our family life as it goes. We are very lucky to be surrounded by so much love.

I'll see you all later....

Peace out friends.

Thought (laugh) for the Day:  I prefer not to think before speaking. I like being just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth.